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Forget complicated wellness routines and expensive supplements: the latest health trend taking over social media looks a lot like an Italian grandmother’s daily life – and experts say it might actually work.
“Nonnamaxxing”, a viral movement circulating widely on TikTok, encourages people to adopt the simple, intentional habits of an Italian grandmother, or “nonna”.
The concept has captured Gen Z’s attention, but its appeal stretches across generations.
At its core, the trend champions the slower, more deliberate lifestyle of an Italian grandmother: cooking from scratch, daily walking, gardening, long family meals, real-world social interaction and reduced screen time.
Simple habits, serious results
The habits may sound modest, but research supports their benefits.
A 2020 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that just 15 minutes of brisk walking daily reduced the risk of premature death. Cooking from scratch is linked to better nutrition, while shared meals offer both physical and mental health benefits.
Italy consistently ranks among the countries with the highest life expectancy, and Sardinia, an Italian island in the Mediterranean, is recognised as a Blue Zone region – one of a handful of places in the world with notable centenarian populations.
Lifestyle patterns in these regions, including consistent movement, real food and strong social connections, have been the subject of longevity studies for years.

Why putting down your phone matters
One of the trend’s most resonant themes is its emphasis on stepping away from screens.
Laurie Singer, a mental health expert, pointed to the psychological toll of constant digital engagement.
“We know that interacting with others in person, rather than spending time on screens, significantly improves mental health,” she says, adding that social media often fuels comparison and lowers self-esteem.
Singer also highlights the value of hands-on activities like gardening, baking, knitting and walking – pursuits that promote focus, presence and reduced anxiety.
“Nonnamaxxing encourages us to be present around a task, like gardening, baking or knitting, or just taking a mindful walk, that delivers something ‘real’,” she says.
The idea is that task engagement, rather than avoidance, builds a sense of purpose and calm – qualities that define the nonna lifestyle.
Ageing as a choice, not a decline
The trend also challenges how people think about getting older. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a researcher at the University of California, Riverside, has studied how an ageing mindset is linked to real outcomes.
“Is it a gift? Is it about wisdom, maturity and the richness of life, or is it about deterioration and loss?” she says. “Both can be true. But you can choose.”
That philosophy is embodied by Licia Fertz, an Italian woman who describes herself as an “accidentally aged model and influencer”. Now 96, her daily routine includes dressing up, wearing bright clothing and putting on make-up – not for vanity, but as an act of self-love.

“You are never too old to be a child again,” she posts on her Instagram account, @liciafertz, which has attracted 344,000 followers.
Another post, with nearly 40,000 likes, says: “Life, if you know how to embrace it, conquers you with all its facets. And I’m madly in love with life.”
What makes nonnamaxxing stand out in the crowded wellness space is its simplicity. There are no products to buy, no apps to download and no 12-step programmes to follow. The trend frames traditional living as a modern wellness model, linking longevity to lifestyle consistency rather than industry complexity.
Movement, real food, social connection and mindset – these are the pillars. And if Italian grandmothers have been practising them for generations, perhaps the rest of us are just catching up.


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What is ‘nonnamaxxing’? Viral health trend embraces an Italian grandmother’s lifestyle

Embrace Italian nonna habits like cooking, walking, and less screen time for a healthier, happier life - at least, that is what TikTok users believe as “nonnamaxxing” takes off online. Photo: dpa

“Nonnamaxxing” encourages people to adopt the simple habits of an Italian grandmother, or “nonna”, such as gardening and daily walking. Photo: Shutterstock

Licia Fertz is an Italian woman who describes herself as an “accidentally aged model and influencer”. Photo: Instagram/liciafertz

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Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Daily walks, gardening, cooking from scratch – whatever an Italian grandmother would typically do, Gen Z are going wild for online


Daily walks, gardening, cooking from scratch – whatever an Italian grandmother would typically do, Gen Z are going wild for online.


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Social media

What is ‘nonnamaxxing’? Viral health trend embraces an Italian grandmother’s lifestyle

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Daily walks, gardening, cooking from scratch – whatever an Italian grandmother would typically do, Gen Z are going wild for online

Simple habits, serious results

Daily walks, gardening, cooking from scratch – whatever an Italian grandmother would typically do, Gen Z are going wild for online